Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple and Litecoin: here are four of Bitcoin's closest rivals

Bitcoin continues to attract enormous attention from investors, but it is not the only cryptocurrency in existence. As fears grow that Bitcoin's rapid growth was little more than a bubble, more and more people are starting to consider its rivals.

There are now hundreds of cryptocurrencies and, while they have significant differences, all are based on blockchain technology.

A blockchain is a method of record-keeping that uses a network of individual computers to store a log of transactions, and verify new transactions, without the involvement of a central organisation such as a bank.

The top five largest currencies change regularly as prices of individual currencies fluctuate, but these are some...